Method and apparatus for pressing fabrics

ABSTRACT

A pressing machine for drycleanable fabric or material includes a stationary buck and a movable head. The buck is operated such as to be at substantially room temperature, and has a plurality of apertures in its pressing surface communicating with a chamber which is maintained under continuous vacuum. The head has a plurality of apertures in its pressing surface which communicate with a steam chamber. When the head is caused to move into engagement with the buck, steam is forced through the apertures in the press head to press the fabric or material held in the machine.

Sassman 1 Feb. 13, 1973 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 2,703,939 3/1955 Clarke ..38/4l PRESSING FABRICS 2,537,700 1/1951 Powell et al. ..38/l6 2,644,254 7/1953 Schultz ..38/15 Inventor: James Sassman, 34 Stomker 2,307,370 1 1943 Hale ..38/15 DrivqTrenton, 38 2,996,714 4 1935 Beede ..38/l6 Filed: J y 1970 2,037,784 4/1936 Hanney ..38/31 [21] Appl. No.: 64,027 Primary ExaminerJames R. Boler Assistant ExaminerG. V. Larkin Related U.S. Application Data Attorney Eugene whitacre [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 758,735, Sept. 10, 1968,

abandoned. ABSTRACT A pressing machine for drycleanable fabricor material [52] U.S. Cl ..38/15 includes a stationary buck and a movable head The [51] hit. Cl. ..-D06f71/34 buck is operated such as to be at Substantially room [58] Field Of Search ..38/l5l7, 20, 21, temperature and has a plurality of apertures in its 38/31 41 pressing surface communicating with a chamber which is maintained under continuous vacuum. The head has [56] References and a plurality of apertures in its pressing surface which UNITED STATES PATENTS communicate with a steam chamber. When the head is caused to move into engagement with the buck, steam 2,977,697 4/1961 Root et a1 ..38/16 is forced through the apertures in the press head to 2,784,509 3/1957 t hum 6! a press the fabric or material held in the machine. 4,817,406 8/1931 Braun ....38/15 3,535,802 10/1970 Tucker et al. ..38/16 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESSING FABRICS This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 758,735 filed Sept. 10, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for pressing a fabric or material.

Pressing machines currently available and in use include a stationary bottom platform or buck, which is suitably shaped to receive the type of garment or other article to be pressed. A second pressing member referred to as a head is pivotally mounted for movement from a remote location to a position in engagement with the buck. The head essentially comprises a steam chamber having a pressing surface with a plurality of apertures which communicate with a vacuum chamber. In addition, the buck of present pressing machines also includes a steam chamber which can be selectively coupled to the vacuum chamber to cause steam to be forced through the apertures in the buck. In operation of known types of pressing machines, the garment to be pressed is placed on the buck, and the head is caused to move down and press against the garment. Steam is then released from one or both of the buck or head and then the head is moved back to its standby position. A vacuum is then created in the vacuum chamber of the buck to draw air through the garment until it is dry enough to hang without wrinkling.

In accordance with the present invention, a pressing machine is provided with a buck which is operated in a manner such that it is maintained at substantially room temperature, and the vacuum chamber of the buck is maintained under continuous vacuum. It has been discovered that fabric or materials can be pressed faster while achieving an excellent quality of finish using a machine and method embodying the invention. Since the buck is operated at substantially room temperature, the buck need not include a steam chamber and hence the cost of the machine is significantly reduced. Because of the continuous vacuum, the steam from the head is drawn through the fabric or material thus permeating the material and requiring less steam for a quality finish. Because less steam is required the pressing and drying time is reduced. In addition, the cooler buck, and the continuous vacuum drawing off the steam as it is emitted offer the further advantage in enhancing the ease and comfort with which the press may be operated.

The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention itself however both as to its organization and method of operation will bestbe understood by reference to the following specification when read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressing machine embodying the present invention and useful in practicing the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the buck of the pressing machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the head of the pressing machine shown in FIG. 1.

The pressing machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is referred to as a dual legger for pressing trousers. The press includes a pair of bucks l and 12 which are spaced from one another to receive the upper or waist portion of a pair of trousers. The bucks are supported by a suitable stand 14 at a height which is convenient for the operator to insert and remove the articles to be pressed.

A head 16 is supported on a hinge 18 to permit the head to be moved by suitable operating means, not shown, into engagement with the bucks l0 and 12. The bucks 10 and 12 are fitted with padded covers and the head 16 is covered with a teflon coated aluminum grid plate as is known and practiced in the art.

As shown in FIG. 2, the buck 10, which in the present instance is identical with the buck 12, includes a vacuum chamber 20. A plurality of apertures 22 in the top surface of the buck l0 communicate with the vacuum chamber 20. A pipe 24 connects the vacuum chamber to a vacuum pump, not shown;

As shown in FIG. 3, the head 16 includes a steam chamber 25 and a steam distribution chamber 26 separated by a dividing wall 27. A plurality of apertures 28 communicates with the steam distribution chamber 26. Steam is admitted to the steam chamber 25 through a pipe 30 and after flowing through the steam chamber passes out through a return pipe 31. A pipe 32 from the steam chamber 25 is connected to a solenoid controlled valve 33, and from the valve 33, through a pipe 34 to the steam distribution chamber 26. To diffuse the steam throughout the chamber 26, the pipe 34 delivers the steam to a pipe 35 extending along the length of the chamber 26 and having a plurality of apertures therein.

In the operation of the machine, the top portion of a pair of trousers is pressed on a separate pressing machine designed for that purpose. The top portion of the trousers is inserted in the space between the bucks, and one leg is laid out on each of the bucks l0 and 12. During the operation of the press, air is continuously drawn into the vacuum chamber 20 through the apertures 22. The partial vacuum thus created aids in holding the trousers in position on the bucks.

After positioning of the trousers, the operator simultaneously presses a pair of spaced buttons 36, a safety feature, to initiate the automatic operation of the press. A first mechanism, not shown, causes the head 16 to be pivoted into pressing engagement with the bucks 10 and 12. After the head 16 is in position, a circuit is completed which actuates the solenoid controlled valve 33 to admit steam to the steam distribution chamber 26 for a controlled period of time, such as, for example, two seconds. The steam is forced out of the apertures 28 and through the grid on the head 16 to the garment being pressed.

After the solenoid operated valve 33 shuts off the steam supply, the head 16 is caused to pivot back to the open position as shown in FIG. 1. During the entire pressing operation, air is drawn into the apertures 22 in the bucks l0 and 12. As a result, the steam is caused to permeate the fabric of the trouser legs, so that less steam is required as compared to prior systems, and the trouser legs are dry and ready for removal from the press when the head has moved back to the open position.

In the operation of a pressing machine of the type described above, the timing mechanism was set so that the complete pressing operation took six seconds from the time the start buttons 36 were pushed until the head 16 was again in the open position. As soon as the press is open, the garment, which has a high quality press finish, is ready for hanging.

in addition to providing high quality performance in a very short time interval, the continuous vacuum created in the vacuum chamber 20 of the bucks l and 12 draws off the steam forced through the apertures 28 in the head 16. This eliminates or materially reduces the amount of steam around the machine thereby contributing not only to the comfort of the operator, but also to his ability to use the machine to its greatest capacity. in addition, the bucks and 12 which do not include steam chambers, and operate at substantially the ambient room temperature also contribute to the operator's comfort. Since the bucks 10 and 12 do not include steam chambers, the cost of these portions of the pressing machine is significantly lower than the corresponding portions of pressing machines currently used.

It will be understood that the principles of the invention can be incorporated in other pressing machines thanthe type shown.

What is claimed is:

l. The method for pressing an article on a press of the type including a stationary buck having an upper pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a first chamber and a moveable head having a lower pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a second chamber comprising the steps of:

positioning an article to be pressed on said buck;

moving said head into engagement with said buck;

causing steam from a source external to the head to be forced through said second chamber and the apertures of said head to the article to be pressed for a period of time;

moving said head out of engagement with said buck;

and maintaining a continuous vacuum on the first chamber of said buck at least during the time said article is on said buck, said buck being at substantially room temperature.

2. A press of the type including a stationary unheated buck having a first chamber adjacent an upper pressing surface with a plurality of apertures in said upper pressing surface communicating with said first chamber;

means adapted to connect said first chamber to a vacuum pump so that said first chamber is maintained under a continuous vacuum,

a head having a second chamber adjacent alower pressing surface with a plurality of apertures in said lower pressing surface communicating with said second chamber, said head being moveable from a first position displaced from said buck to a second position in pressing engagement with said buck,

means including a valve adapted to connect said second chamber to a source of steam under pressure, said source of steam being external to the head, said valve being operable to admit steam into said second chamber during a pressing operation thereby forcing steam through the apertures in said lower pressing surface of said head, and said valve being operable between pressing operations to block the entry of steam into said second chamber.

3. A press of the type including:

a stationary unheated buck having a first chamber adjacent a pressing surface with a plurality of apertures In said pressing surface communicating with said first chamber;

a moveable head having a second chamber adjacent a pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with said secondchamber;

means for moving said head relative to said buck to bring the respective pressing surfaces thereof into engagement for a period of time and thereafter moving said head relative to said buck to separate the respective pressing surfaces thereof;

means including a valve adapted to connect said second chamber to a source of steam under pressure, said source of steam being external to said head;

means for operating said valve to admit steam into said second chamber during at least a portion of the time the pressing surface of said head is in engagement with the pressing surface of said buck thereby forcing steam through the apertures in the pressing surface of said head; and

means for creating a vacuum in said first chamber continuously during the time the pressing surface of said head is in engagement with the pressing surface of said buck and also for a period of time immediately preceding and succeeding the time when the pressing surface of said head is in engagement with the pressing surface of said buck. 

1. The method for pressing an article on a press of the type including a stationary buck having an upper pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a first chamber and a moveable head having a lower pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a second chamber comprising the steps of: positioning an article to be pressed on said buck; moving said head into engagement with said buck; causing steam from a source external to the head to be forced through said second chamber and the apertures of said head to the article to be pressed for a period of time; moving said head out of engagement with said buck; and maintaining a continuous vacuum on the first chamber of said buck at least during the time said article is on said buck, said buck being at substantially room temperature.
 1. The method for pressing an article on a press of the type including a stationary buck having an upper pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a first chamber and a moveable head having a lower pressing surface with a plurality of apertures communicating with a second chamber comprising the steps of: positioning an article to be pressed on said buck; moving said head into engagement with said buck; causing steam from a source external to the head to be forced through said second chamber and the apertures of said head to the article to be pressed for a period of time; moving said head out of engagement with said buck; and maintaining a continuous vacuum on the first chamber of said buck at least during the time said article is on said buck, said buck being at substantially room temperature.
 2. A press of the type including a stationary unheated buck having a first chamber adjacent an upper pressing surface with a plurality of apertures in said upper pressing surface communicating with said first chamber; means adapted to connect said first chamber to a vacuum pump so that said first chamber is maintained under a continuous vacuum, a head having a second chamber adjacent a lower pressing surface with a plurality of apertures in said lower pressing surface communicating with said second chamber, said head being moveable from a first position displaced from said buck to a second position in pressing engagement with said buck, means including a valve adapted to connect said second chamber to a source of steam under pressure, said source of steam being external to the head, said valve being operable to admit steam into said second chamber during a pressing operation thereby forcing steam through the apertures in said lower pressing surface of said head, and said valve being operable between pressing operations to block the entry of steam into said second chamber. 